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April 2006 Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry ver. 2.1 www.traditionaltree.org Santalum austrocaledonicum and S. yasi (sandalwood) Santalaceae (sandalwood family) S. austrocaledonicum: sandalwud (Vanuatu: Bislama) S. yasi: ahi (Tonga); yasi (Fiji); asi manogi (Samoa) Lex A. J. Thomson IN BRIEF Distribution S. austrocaledonicum: New homson t Caledonia and Vanuatu; S. yasi: Fiji, Niue, and L. Tonga. Size Small shrubs or trees, typically 5–12 m photo: (16–40 ft) at maturity. Habitat Varies by species, typically subhumid or humid tropics with distinct dry season of 3–5 months. Vegetation At young stages, dry forest and woodland; possibly closed secondary forest when mature in natural habitats. Soils Requires light to medium, well drained soils. Growth rate Slow to moderate, 0.3–0.7 m/yr (12–28 in/yr). Main agroforestry uses Homegardens, mixed- species forestry. Main uses Heartwood for crafts, essential oil extraction for cosmetics and perfumery, in- cense, and religious ceremonies. Yields Heartwood in 30+ years (greater than 40 kg/tree [88 lb/tree]). Intercropping Because sandalwood is hemi- parasitic and requires one or more host plants, intercropping is not only possible, but neces- sary. Invasive potential Has a capacity for inva- Santalum yasi seedling siveness in disturbed places, but this is rarely planted in homegarden, considered a problem. Pangaimotu, Vava‘u, Ton- ga, and protected from damage by stakes. INTRODUCTION SANDALWOOD TERMS Pacific sandalwood species are small trees that occur natu- rally in open, dry forests and woodland communities. They Hemi-parasitic Describes a plant which photosyn- are typically multi-stemmed and somewhat bushy, attain- thesizes but which derives water and some nutrients ing a height of 5–12 m (16–40 ft), or up to 15 m (50 ft) for through attaching to roots of other species. S. austrocaledonicum in New Caledonia, at maturity and Root-grafting This is where roots of different in- spreading to about the same width as their height. They are dividual plants grow together, forming functional capable of root-suckering: following harvesting, clumps of unions and exchanging materials. Sandalwood roots suckers may regenerate in a circular pattern several me- can root-graft onto many other species, effectively ters away from the original stump. They are root-parasitic, joining whole plant communities through their root which means they have special root extensions that cap- systems. ture nutrients from roots of certain other plants in the soil. Sandalwood cannot persist in moist, dense forest types due good regeneration potential and ability to colonize/invade to its poor tolerance of high shade levels. Sandalwood spe- nearby suitable sites. So long as some mature fruit-bearing cies generally have a broad edaphic range, usually with a trees are retained, birds will spread the fruit. Their invasive preference for well drained neutral to slightly alkaline soils. potential is seldom considered a drawback due to the ex- They grow more quickly in fertile soils but are more at risk ceptionally high value of their heartwood. Furthermore, of being shaded out by taller, faster growing trees on such their small stature and susceptibility to being shaded out sites. means they never become dominant and/or substantially Both S. austrocaledonicum and S. yasi have considerable modify or replace existing plant communities. economic potential, but their populations are depleted, and there is a need to promote greater regeneration and sustainably manage remaining populations. Santalum DISTRIBUTION austrocaledonicum is currently being grown in small plantings or managed in natural stands in Vanuatu and Native range New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific. The species grows S. austrocaledonicum This species is naturally found in the at moderate rates and can produce substantial quantities island archipelagos of New Caledonia and Vanuatu in the of the valued heartwood on a rotation of about 25–40 years. southwest Pacific. There is a growing interest among villagers, other small- Var. austrocaledonicum is common in the Loyalty Islands scale entrepreneurs, and government organizations to ex- and the Isle of Pines but is uncommon on the main pand the scale of planting in both countries. Replanting island of Grande Terre. It is also present in the Belep of S. yasi is on a small scale, mainly within villages in areas islands. In Vanuatu the principal occurrence is around where it naturally occurs. The largest replanting of S. yasi the northwest, west, and southwest portions of Erro- has been on the Tongan island of ‘Eua, where it has been mango, and on the west coast of Espiritu Santo; it is successfully planted in association with Pinus caribaea. also found on Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Malakula, Efate, The primary advantages of sandalwoods are their ability to and Aneityum. produce a high-value, non-perishable product (heartwood) Var. pilosulum is restricted to low elevations on the main that can provide cash income to people living in outer is- island of New Caledonia near Noumea. It also has lands and more remote communities. They may also be limited occurrence at high elevation in the Karaka re- grown in environmentally sensitive areas, such as water gion (northeast slope of Mt. Do between Boulouparis catchment and biodiversity conservation areas, where ex- and Thio). traction of a few small trees causes minimum disturbance while providing good economic returns. Var. minutum is restricted to the northwest side of the Sandalwoods are well suited to interplanting, and due to main island of New Caledonia. their root-parasitic nature, they need to be grown with S. yasi This species occurs in lowland, drier, and more open other suitable host tree species. They may be interplanted forest types in Fiji, Niue, and Tonga. The Niuean popula- with various other species that can provide additional tion may be an ancient or Polynesian introduction. There is sources of revenue. In Tonga, sandalwood (S. yasi) has one record for Samoa (Savai‘i), where it appears to be in- been grown with other commercial species including pine, troduced but not naturalized. The range extends from Niue casuarina, citrus, and paper mulberry. Sandalwoods have a and ‘Eua, a southern island in the Tongan group, through Santalum austrocaledonicum and S. yasi (sandalwood) Left: Santalum austrocaledonicum. photo: L. thomson Right: Santalum yasi in Tonga. photo: C. ElevitCh Tongatapu, Ha‘apai, and Vava‘u (Tonga), west and north- Common names wards, through the Fiji Islands (Lau group, Kadavu, Nau- S. austrocaledonicum sandalwud (Vanuatu: Bislama) sori Highlands/Viti Levu, Bua/Vanua Levu) to the Udu S. yasi ahi (Tonga); yasi (Fiji); asi manogi (Samoa) Peninsula, NE Vanua Levu, North of Fiji. Other common names Current distribution bois de santal, santal (French) S. austrocaledonicum Outside of its native range this spe- sándalo (Spanish) cies has limited planting, mainly for trial purposes in Aus- sandalwood (English) tralia, Fiji, and the Cook Islands. Size S. yasi This species has limited planting outside of its nat- S. austrocaledonicum A shrub or a small tree typically 5–12 ural range, mainly for trial purposes in Australia. Some of m (16–40 ft) tall by 4–8 m (13–26 ft) in crown width. The its occurrences, e.g., on Niue, may be comprised of natural- maximum tree dimension is 15 m (50 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) ized populations following introduction by humans. crown width. Maximum bole diameter at breast height is 40–50 cm (16–20 in). BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION S. yasi Mature trees typically grow to 8–10 m (26–33 ft) tall by 8–12 m (26–40 ft) in crown width, maximally reaching Preferred scientific names 15 m (50 ft) tall by 13 m (43 ft) in crown width. Maximum Santalum austrocaledonicum Vieillard bole diameter at breast height is 40–50 cm (16–20 in). Santalum yasi Seem. Form Family S. austrocaledonicum and S. yasi Shrub to small tree typi- Santalaceae (sandalwood family) cally with a short, crooked bole and spreading crown in open situations. In forest and sheltered situations, the Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry (www.traditionaltree.org) Leaves S. austrocaledonicum The foliage shows wide variation. Leaves are opposite, usually in one plane, decussate on erect new growth, simple, entire, glabrous, dark green, and shiny on top and dull light green to glaucous underneath. The shape of the leaf is initially long and thin (5–9 by 0.5 cm [2–3.5 by 0.2 in]) in seedlings and young plants to about 3 years of age, becoming shorter and broader in older plants. Mature leaves are narrowly elliptic, but maybe ovate, lanceolate, or obovate, (3–)4–6(–8) cm by (1–)1.5–2.5(–4.5) cm ([1.2–]1.6–2.4[–3.1] in by [0.4–]0.6–1[–1.8] in) with 6 to 15 pairs of barely visible secondary nerves tapering equally to the base and blunt tip. Var. minutum has smaller, more glaucous, bluish-green leaves, about 2 by 0.8 cm (0.8 by 0.3 Bark of S. yasi. photo: L. thomson in). S. yasi Seedlings have very slender, near-linear, leaves. bole may be straight for more than half the total height. Leaves are simple, opposite, narrow to broadly lanceolate, In older specimens the crown is light, straggly, and with shiny, and typically 6–7 by 1.5–2 cm (2.4–2.8 by 0.6–0.8 drooping branches. The bark is smooth to rough, slightly in). There is considerable variation in foliage size; adjacent longitudinally fissured or reticulated, which can be more plants have been observed to range from 5 by 1 cm (2 by pronounced with age, (greyish or reddish brown, mottled 0.4 in) to 8 x 2.5 cm (3.1 x 1 in). The foliage is light to dark with patches of lichen).

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